Five days felt like forever when we were waiting for Keegan to arrive. An eternity. Every night, I would go to bed still pregnant, and every morning I would wake up - still pregnant. It was interminable. It felt as though we had missed our window of opportunity and that this baby would never come into the world.
And then, of course, the contractions started and within a surprisingly short time, I was holding a baby. Four beautiful days with a boy sleeping in the cot next to my bed. Just the two of us getting to know each other.
They are the days you wish you could pour into a bottle and relive whenever you want. Where is a pensieve when you need it?
Nine years later and my boy is almost up to my shoulder. He asks questions that show he's starting to make connections with the broader world and he is becoming increasingly more balanced in his emotions. He's bright and quick and funny - deliberately funny. He hugs us, loves and, and - mostly - gets along well with his little brother.
I couldn't imagine this boy nine years ago when I looked into the eyes of my brand new baby. It feels like the world's longest 'hatching,' watching my boy break free of his first shell and grow into a man. In another nine years, when he turns 18, I'm sure I'll look at him and marvel that I couldn't see this man hidden behind his nine year old eyes.
Happy Birthday, Keegan. Thank you for coming into our lives.
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